School celebrates Helen's 20 years of service
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One of Turriff Primary's best known faces celebrated 20 years in her role during the current lockdown.
While in any other year there would have been a special assembly for Helen Mitchell, things were somewhat different this year.
At present Helen spends a considerable amount of her time working from home, only attending at the school when required.
To mark the occasion, staff and former colleagues paid tribute to her dedication and commitment to the school.
They included former staff member Sandra Gray who said: "Helen started as my clerical assistant back when Aberdeenshire Council were allocating hours on a temporary basis to primary schools. "Thankfully those hours were made permanent and we worked together till I retired in 2011.
"As I’m sure it still is, the school office was a busy place and we had to deal with a range of issues and I feel we made a good team – being able to laugh together at times and console each other at sad times.
"Helen soon was in integral part of the Markethill staff, getting to know pupils, parents and staff.
"As receptionist, she always had a friendly hello to everyone when they came to the office for whatever reason.
"On the fun side of things, Helen was always keen to be involved in the annual end of year staff versus pupils matches."
Her competitive side was also noted by current staff member Emma Littlejohn.
She explained: "Helen always played in the staff versus pupils netball games and never let the pupils win!."
It is her knowledge of pupils and their families that is also something anyone who has passed through the school remembers
As Emma said: "Every time new P1s started, when the pair came through to the office with the register she would tell them to stop and she’d have a look at them and guess their names so she would remember.
"She is so good at knowing all the kids in fact on one residential trip away with the school she was helping with, one youngster asked if Helen could remember her grannies address, which she did!.
"We've also all noted that she never goes a day without oatcakes and cheese.
Reflecting on the 20 years, Helen said: I started doing voluntary work at the school which led to a part-time position and then eventually to full time nine years ago.
"There have been big changes when we moved to the new school, there is a lot more space for us here, but I don't get to see parents and children quite as much due to the layout and the way some of the day to day things like registers are done nowadays.
"It's been fantastic over the years to see the kids move on up through the school and seeing some of them come back as parents and even as staff members."
